Ep 121: The Painter of Light

Why is God the true painter of light? Let's talk about that here in just a sec.

Welcome to the show. I'm Daniel Dalp, and this is For Your Sunday Morning Drive, the short podcast with the goal of providing some motivation, encouragement, and helping you recenter your mind on those spiritual things on a hectic Sunday morning.

I hope you're having a great day. I appreciate you taking some time out of your week to spend it with us on the show.

Before we get started today, I did want to mention our website, foryoursundaymorningdrive.com. If you've never checked it out, head over there. There's links in the show notes every week, and you can find all sorts of great stuff on there. All of our episodes are listed. There's transcripts for every episode, and you can find ways to support the show.

This episode is dedicated to my good friend David Rogers, who has plenty to say about the subject matter in question today.

Let's go ahead and get the show on the road. This is episode 121, "The Painter of Light." Let's go to church.

Are we there yet?

If you've ever visited Gatlinburg or Branson or places like that, or even stopped at your local mall if it's still open, you've probably seen a Thomas Kincaid gallery. If you were a kid in the '90s, chances are your mom probably had at least one of his paintings on your wall.

But if you aren't familiar with his work, the target demographic lands solidly somewhere between "I Love Jesus" and "I Love Christmas," and most of his works feature sweeping landscapes, quaint cottages, or lighthouses with entirely too many windows, each bursting at the seams with warm, ethereal light. His portrayal and use of it in his work is what made him popular.

And you've probably also heard his moniker, Thomas Kincaid, the "Painter of Light," a title that loses some of its luster when you realize that it was both created and trademarked by the artist himself.

Now, whether you're a fan of his art or not, one thing that is not up for debate is his chosen hallmark. Light and its portrayal and execution in painting has historically been a difficult thing to master, and when done well, it can distinguish the greats from the ordinary.

Monet, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and, to a much lesser degree, Kincaid, have all striven to capture on canvas what was created in Genesis chapter 1, verse 3, where God says, "Let there be light," and there was light.

Notice the ease in which God spoke his first creation into existence. He just said it, and it happened. No study of technique or color transition or temperature. Just mastery.

Is it any wonder, then, that this first creation, made by the true Painter of Light, seems to hold a special place in the heart of the divine?

I think it's beautiful that God, from the moment that light is created, then uses his first creation as an illustration of himself. Throughout Scripture, He paints light. He paints himself into the spiritual landscape from Genesis to Revelation.

And as he paints, notice the progression of his masterpiece.

In Genesis chapter 1, verse 3, he starts out and he says, "Let there be light."

Psalm 27, verse 1, David proclaims, "The Lord is my light and my salvation."

In Isaiah 9, verse 2, the prophet states, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light."

John chapter 8, verse 12, Jesus describes himself when he says, "I am the light of the world."

And in Matthew 5:14, Christ now points to us and says, "You are the light of the world."

In that moment, it seems that Jesus hands us the brush. He's given us the job of continuing to paint light, his light, into the lives of others using our own.

Matthew chapter 5, verses 14 through 16:

"Christ says you are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Isn't it inspiring? Isn't it sobering that we are charged with continuing to build on the foundation of what our God and Savior, Master Painter of Light, started all the way back in Genesis?

Christian, it's my encouragement to you today to pick up your brush and start painting.

Start truly living in a way that stands out, not because we're trying to draw attention to ourselves, but because light is meant to be seen.

So let your kindness stand out. Let your patience stand out, and your forgiveness and your faith. Let those things stand out and be noticeable.

Because every time we choose to live differently, every time we choose goodness over bitterness, truth over convenience, service over selfishness, we are putting a little more of His light into a world that desperately needs it.

And maybe that's the real masterpiece.

No, not a painting hanging on our wall, not a landscape captured on canvas, but a life that, because it has been touched by the Light of the World, becomes a source of light for somebody else.

So, yeah, pick up your brush. The Master Painter has given you a canvas. Go paint some light.

Well, those are my thoughts for your Sunday morning drive. Now it's time to hear yours.

Our discussion questions for this week:

What does it look like for a Christian to paint light in everyday life?

Where in your life might your light be hidden or dimmed?

Who is someone in your life that needs to see Christ's light through you?

And here's Evelyn with this week's kids question:

What is something nice you can do this week to show other people the light of Jesus?

Hey, thank you for listening. Thank you for making us a part of your week.

Spend some time this week painting for the Master, and I'll see you Sunday.